Boom & Bust: The Resilient Women of Historic Telegraph Cove is awarded an Honorable Mention for being one of “the most significant contributions to the historical literature of British Columbia”
With no book awards galas this year due to COVID-19, I decided to dress up and make a long-winded acceptance speech to my couch. Thank you to the resilient women of Telegraph Cove, TouchWood Editions, my husband, my mother….. and Blue Mountain Winery. Cheers!
Virtual Book Club participation and discussion, June 22, 2020
physical distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic by joining a thoughtful and generous group of women at their book club via zoom
Checking out the shelves of BC’s bookstores
Coho Book of Campbell River
behind the counter in pride of place at Vancouver’s Hager Books
Munro’s books in Victoria, one of the most beautiful bookstores anywhere
In the General Store at Telegraph Cove……
….and in Telegraph Cove’s WIC (Whale Interpretive Centre)
in an appropriate section, although it could also go in Biography, History, Women
in good company at Tanner’s Books in Sidneyat Tsawwassen Ferry Terminal at Bolen Books in Victoria, with an instrument I did not use in the writing of this book!
trying to influence shoppers, while remaining incognito!
Presentation at Vancouver Public Library in Honour of International Women’s Day, March 8, 2020
at the entrance to the gorgeous central branch of the VPL
Talking about my favourite group of women, with a photo of all the women living in Telegraph Cove at the time, in 1961
Reading selections from the next to the primary colour block VPL logo
The best part – talking to people about the book and the women in it, and about the women in their lives (and making a few sales of course!)
Book signing at Mulberry Books, Parksville, November 24, 2019
a stack of books to sign and a loop of vintage photos to watch, and a fire extinguisher in the background in case things get heated
with Evylen Farrant (Chapter 16) and her husband Marvin, who lived in Telegraph Cove for 57 years book store tableau
Casa Loma Seniors Village, Courtenay, B.C. November 23, 2019
on the board!introducing Telegraph Covesigning books, the best place to be on a very rainy November day on the coast!a friend who braved the elements to be there
Charitable Donations Presentations in Campbell River, November 22, 2019
Presenting the first installment of my royalties to the Campbell River North Island Transition Society, with Diane Palmer (Economic Development Coordinator) and Valery Puetz (Executive Director)Making my second donation of the day – this time to the Campbell River Hospital Foundation in support of women’s health, with CRHF Executive Director Stacey Marsh
Old Hastings Mill Store Museum in Vancouver, November 10, 2019
No one would know it was raining an hour before
Despite technical difficulties with an ornery projector, one or two of the photos could be shown on the screen, the rest on my laptop
a polite, engaged and rapt audience of over 30 came out to hear about Boom & Bust’s stories, then enjoy a cup of tea and cookies on proper china
What an awesome little museum this is – totally tucked away in JerichoQuick! What’s that behind my shoulder? Some benevolent artifact from the past
Haig-Brown Fall Festival in Campbell River, September 23, 2019
Haig-Brown House, heritage home of author/environmentalist Roderick Haig-Brown and his wife librarian/humanitarian Ann Elmorerain at the beginning…..then glorious sunshine!at the table of the Campbell River North Island Transition Society, one of the two charities my royalties of this print run are being donated toabout the women whose name is attached to a shelter for at-risk women and children, now part of the CRNITSmy book for sale, along with Roderick Haig-Brown’s books, by the Campbell River Museum
wearing my protective booties, I am making my presentation in the study, trying to soak in the vibes of the Haig-Browns – look there is his chair on the left!
we all had to leave the House by the back door, as a bear wandered into the front garden – I love rural BC!enjoying Campbell River……its beaches…..….and its bakeries!….. then home again, courtesy BC Ferries
Telegraph Cove, August 10, 2019
Stationed at the Telegraph Cove General StoreReading to a spread out group of wonderfully enthusiastic visitorsmeeting and signingAnd over there…..One of the women in the book, Lorraine Wallz, was there to chat and sign as wella little walking tour of the Coveseagulls enjoying the tourso happy to be here this sunny day!new buildings to add to the old
Sointula Museum and Library, August 8, 2019
being introduced by organizer #1 Kathypresentation
huge thanks to instigator and organizer #2 Annemarie
whipping cream in a vintage butter churn
the best cakes and cookies in the world!
the old hall my great-grandparents and grandparents danced inFinnish still in evidencethe “new hall” that my mother danced in
Victoria Book Launch at Bolen Books, July 18, 2019
checking out the place – incognitofour of the women attended, making it extra specialthird cousins I discovered I have while writing the book
Delivering copies to all the Women Contributors
first copy to my mother of course!this woman knows hoe to live!2 at one time – and a third to be passed onTouchwood Editions author to TouchWood Editions authorsomeone instrumental in helping me with information for one of the schoolteacherssome women are so busy the delivery had to be made on a highway pull-outsome deliveries were very emotional, and needed tissues at the readyappropriate backdrop of a new Telegraph Cove paintingdelivering to a woman I had never actually met before this momentin a coffee break at workappropriately in a family kitchen between work day and social eveningdelivering to a woman who I have looked up to all my lifedelivering to a small island means getting to stay and visit all day until the next ferryanother quick pass during a short work break in the back laneto the oldest woman from the book still living – 90 this summer!Impossible not to look elegant when in this apartment – I even have orchids coming out of my head!
Book launch at Book Warehouse on Main Street, Vancouver on June 25, 2019
cookies from “Terra Breads” and “Cookies and Company”signing with champagne at handthe staff who made it happen
My book is here at last! A little celebration is in order.